Polish rod grip



Sept. 1-4,-\1937. R. c. PFEIL POLISH ROD GRIP Filed Feb. ll, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet l w IIII Sept. 14, 1937. R. c. PFEIL POLISH Ron GRIP FiledFeb. l1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED STATESIPATENTf'ortica.jv

POLISH non GRIPV v Roy c. Pfeil, Grove city, ohio, assignor ,to In.

ternational-Stacey Corporation, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio,

p Columbus,

Application February 11, 1936, serial No. 63,402 7 claims. (c1.:a4-'126) vThis invention'relates to gripping devices for clampingcables, rods or other members to enable the latter to withstand hightensile forces without slippage.

'It `is van object of the present invention to provide 'an :improvedgripping or clamping Ydevice which is :primarily .constructed to connectvthe cables of an oscillatory pump beam with thevertically'reciprocable'polish rod of a well pump. In such a device,enormous strains, particularly in the matter of "deep wells, are presentin the connections :uniting the polish rods with the beam cables, and itis the object of the inventionto so construct the clamping or grippingdevice as to enable the same to successfully absorb andqwithstand thesestresses under operating conditions without Ainjury to the polish rodsor cables or permitting slippage thereof whenjoined with -said .grippingor clamping device.

With these and other objects in'view,whch will appear as the descriptionproceeds', 'the invention consists in ithe novel features ofconstruction, combination of elements and varrangements of Vpartshereinafter fully described and pointed out init-he appended claims. Y v

In the `accompanying drawings:

liig. 1 is a view in 'front elevation of the' improved cable and rodgripping device ycomprising the present invention;

Figc-2 isV a horizontal sectional view taken' through the -device on the`plane indicated] v"by the -lineII-II'of Fig. 1;

Fg. '3 is a-vertical transverse sectional view on the line III-III ofFig. 1 and disclosing more .particularly the polish rod gripping means;

' 4 isa similar Vview on the lline IV-IV of Fig. 1, and disclosing thecable gripping means;

Fig. 5'is'a perspectiveview of the cable'gripp'ing jaws, illustratingthe latter inseparated relation- 'ship;=

Fig. `6 is a' horizontal sectional view on the line VI-VIof Fig. 3. H

Y :In thezspecilc embodiment of ny invention illustrated yinsaid-drawings, my improved cable and rod `gripping device comprises acast metal body I, y'1J-*shaped web 2,:in which is provided a verticallyextending open-sided channel 3 of a length equivfaient 'to' the fullheight of the body "I.' The channel 3 -is adapted to receive'the upperportion of the polish rod 4 of a well pumping mechaynisrci, the polishVrod and the well'pumping appliances carriedthereby being supported byand suspended from the body I. The open side of the ,channel 3,.ollowingthe positioningfof the Vpolish -formedfcentra'lly with a substantiallyrod 4 therein, is closed by meansrof a removable plate 5, the latter, asshown in Figs. landZ, being formed with integraljlaterally projectingears 6, which .register with corresponding apertured ears 1. formed withandeprojecting fromthe upper and lower horizontally disposed flanges 8of thebody I. Headed Ipins 9 :are'passed through Vthe registeringapertures provided in ,the ears 6 and 'I to retainthe plate 'in itsposition of channel closure, the "lower :ends ofv said pins fbeingprovided withcotter keys I0, vor their-equivalents', to preventdisplacement of the pins. i1

i As'shown more particularlyin-Figs. 1 and 3,

the polish rod-issecured .irr1connection with the body .I'by theemployment ofa -f-rictional gripping -means comprising a' casingillvwhich rests on the topof `the centralportion `of the body -I and isyinternally provided withfa pair of separable clamping members .-I2havingV the Vcomplemental vertical faces thereof grooved as at I3 forthe -K reception'fof the polish rod. The casing Il is provided withthreaded openings I 4 for the reception of set screws I5, the inner endsof. which -frictionally Yengage one lofY said clampingmembers to force.the latter into gripping and supporting contact'with lthe rodi 14 whenvsaid set screws are tightened bymeans or suitable wrenches. ToIfacilitate the Yrelease Yor separation of `the clamping rnernbers,.onevofthe latter may be provided with a threaded-.bolt IIL-which Yprojectsthrough an opening- IJ, formed in thecasingrll andhas itSouter-endprovided,witlrr a head I8.

`A coiled expansion. spr-ing.Y I9 is disposed between Vthe outer surfaceof thecasing tII and a Y' onthe bolt I6-so that the.

carried therebywill be transmitted tothe body I-through the clampinglmembers I2 and the casing II, so `that the rise and fall of the body I,in unison with `an associated walking beam, will impart` correspondingmotion to the -pump or polish-roda.

Since awalkingbeamis mounted for swinging movement in a vertical planeabout a xed .horizontal turning axis, andsince the .polish rod ismounted to reciprocate .vertically, it is customary `suliiicientstrength .to vsustain 3 in well operating apparatus to connect thepolish Y v the tremendous weights imposed thereon by the polish rod andthe pumping mechanism suspended therefrom and the weight of the column0f liquid undergoing elevation through the casing of a well by theoperation of the pumping appliances. In addition, the cables, by reasonof their flexibility, compensate for variations in the relativepositions of the arcuately swinging walking beam and the verticallymovable polish rod.

In the accompanying drawings, the cables employed for this purpose areindicated at 2|, and it will be understood that the upper ends of saidcables are adapted for connection with the operating head of a standardwalking beam, not shown. To unite the lower ends of said cables in asecure, effective and non-slipping manner with the clamp body, thelatter is formed, as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, toinclude on opposite sides of the web 2 a pair of boxlike anges 22,comprising an integral part of the body I and arranged between the`upper and lower flanges 8 thereof. The flanges 22 producecable-receiving sockets 23 in the'body I, and the wall surfaces 24-24 ofeach of these sockets are tapered vertically, as shown in Fig. 4, sothat the open upper ends of said sockets are narrower than the largerlower end portions thereof.

Arranged to occupy thesockets 23 are cable clamping jaws 25, there beinga pair of such jaws for each of the sockets 23. The said jaws preferablycomprise metallic castings having their inner vertical surfaces groovedas at 26 to receive a pair of the cables 2|. In addition, each of saidjaws is provided with an inclined outer surface 21 adapted forengagement with the inclined surfaces 24-24 of the sockets 23.Integrally projecting from the inner vertical faces of the jaws 25 areintertting lugs or teeth 28, so disposed that when said jaws are incable clamping engagement, relative vertical movement between thecomplemental jaws will be precluded. To hold these jaws in clampingrelationship with the lower ends of the beam cables, the lower portionsof said jaws are formed with registering horizontally disposed openings29l through which pass the threaded shanks 30 of headed bolts 3l, thethreaded portions of the shanks 30 being equipped with securing nuts 32.One of the jaws 25, as shown in Fig. 5, has its lower portion providedwith a nut engaging enlargement 33 which is arranged approximately inthe center of the jaw, while the corresponding enlargements 33 on theother mating jaw are disposed adjacent to the outer sides. By thisarrangement, the nuts are relatively offset so that convenience is to beobtained in the matter of applying a wrench thereto.

It will be seen that by the tightening of the nuts 32, the jaws 25 willbe drawn into firm frictional engagement with the cables 2I. Inaddition, due to the wedge-like surfaces 24 and 21, when the weight ofthe polish rod and its associated parts is applied to the body I, thelatter will tend to press itself downwardly on the inclined surfaces 21of the jaws 25, with theresult that the latter are pressed together infirm, nonslipping frictional contact with said cables, relieving thethreaded connections 3I and 32 of excessive strain.

In applying this clamp head or grip to the polish rod and the beamcables, the polish rod is caused to assume its lowermost position asWell as the operating end of the walking beam. The jaws 25 are thenclamped by means of threaded connections 3I and 32 on the ends of thecables, and the body I is lowered so that the jaws 25 will be receivedwithin the sockets 23. The plate 5 is then applied to the body I toretain the polish rod in connection with the channel 3, and the casingII is applied to the polish rod and lowered into contact with the uppersurface of the grip body and frictionally clamped, by means of the setscrews I5, in holding engagement with the polish rod. The walking beammay then be rocked in the customary manner to reciprocate the polishrod. As soon as the operating end of the walking beam begins its upwardtravel, the jaws 25, by reason of their wedge-like construction, engagewith the surfaces 24 of the cable sockets formed in the body I andfirmly grip said cables to prevent any slippage of the jaws on saidcables. This enables the full weight of the polish rod and the materialssuspended therefrom to be applied to the body I without loss of positionon said body by reason of cable slippage. While the grip provides forthe secure retention of the cable and rod parts connectedtherewith intheir proper relative order, nevertheless, it has the advantage of beingof strong yet simple construction and one which may be readily appliedto associated well operating appliances without the use of special toolsor other facilities. 1 The cable grooves 26 may, if desired. be rough-Iened as indicated at 34 to enable the jaws to obtain a firm grip on thecables. I The lugs 28 limit the side spreading or flattening action ofthe cables when the loads are'applied to cause the clamps to grip thecables.

While I have described the preferred form of thepresent invention,nevertheless it will be appreciated that the same is subject tovariation l and having tapering outer surfaces conforming to the wallsof the socket, and threaded means for maintaining said members' infrictional contact with a cable disposed between the-same.

2. A cable grip comprising a body formed with a tapered socket, a pairof relatively separable jaws having cable receiving grooves formed inthe adjoining surfaces thereof, the outer surfaces of said jaws beingtapered to conform with the configuration of said socket, and threadedmeans disposed exteriorly of said body for initially maintaining saidjaws in clamping engagement with a cable positioned in said grooves.

3. A cable grip comprising a body including a socket having opposedrelatively converging surfaces, a pair of separable jaw memberspositioned in said socket, said jaw members having the innercomplemental surfaces thereof formed with cable engaging surfaces, theouter surfaces of said jaw members being inclined for wedge-likeengagement with the converging surfaces of said socket, means forprecluding relative longitudinal movement between said jaw members whenthe latter are in cable gripping positions, and means disposedexteriorly of said body for frictionally clamping said jaw members inengagement with a cable.

4. In a polish rod grip, a body provided with a socket having opposedconverging surfaces, a pair of jaw members positioned in said socket,said jaw members having inclined outer surfaces formed Vfor wedge-likecontact with the convergn ing surfaces of said socket, the innersurfaces of said jaw members being grooved for the reception of a cable,intertting lugs formed with the inner surfaces of said jaw members, andthreaded securing devices passing transversely through said jaw members,exteriorly of said socket to initially tighten the jaw members infrictional contact with a cable positioned therebetween.

5. In a cable clamp, a pair of relatively separable jaw members, theinner mating surfaces of said jaw members being longitudinally groovedfor the reception of a cable, interiitting relatively offset' lugsintegrally formed with and project-V ing from the inner surfaces of saidjaw members and serving to preclude relative longitudinal movementbetween said jaw members when the latter occupy cable engagingpositions, and threaded fastening meansv passing transversely throughsaid jaw members at one end thereof to draw the latter relatively intofrictional clamping engagement with a cable disposed therebetween.

6. In a clamp, a pair of relatively separable jaw members, the matingsurfaces of said jaw mem` Y bers being formed with integral interfittingand relatively offset Alugs by which relative longitudinal movementbetween said jaw members is precluded when the latter are in clampingrelationship with a member confined therebetween, and securing meanspassing transversely through said jaw members for maintaining the latterin Y their clamping positions and against relative transverseseparatio-n.

'1. In a clamp, a pair of relatively separable jaw members,the matingsurfaces of said jaw members being formed with integral interfitting'andrelatively oiiset lugs by which relative longitudinal movement betweensaid jaw members is precluded when the latter are in clampingrelationshipwith a member confined therebetween, and'securing meansVpassing transversely through said jaw members for maintaining the latterin their clamping positions and against relative transverse separation,the outer surfaces of said jaw members being inclined to taper said jawmembers vertically.

ROY C. PFEIL.

